Stepladder leg



Patented ov. 4,. 1924.

UNITED STATES RALPH E. rmcuronn, or muncrn, INDIANA.

STEPLADDER LEG.

Application filed October 12, 1921.

'10 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH E. Pn'rrrronn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Muneie, in the county of Delaware and State of Indiana,haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Stepladder Legs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improven'ients in ladders of the type thathave an extensible leg or frame whereby the ladder may be practicablyused upon surfaces of irregular contour, or upon elevations of variedheights such as stairways and the like.

Purposes of the invention are to provide an extension memberattachmentwhich is economical of construction, dependable, not

liable to derangement, and which is easily applied to use.

The objects of my invention are accomplished by, and the invention isembodied in the new construction, combination and arrangement of partsshown in the accomanying drawings and descrlbed 1n the followingspecification. The invention is defined in the appended claims.

The different parts of the invention are identified by suitablecharacters of reference applied thereto in the several views in thedrawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a ladder ofstandard form, and in which my present invention is embodied.

Figure 2 is a side View showing my improved extension bar and connectorfor ladders.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the yoke.

Figure 4' is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line44'in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a front view showing the manner in which the extensionmembers may be combined with supplementary ladder steps.

The invention comprises an extension member adapted to register with andto be adjusted to different heights on the leg of the ladder there beingspaced recesses in the extension member, a binding device to embrace theladder leg and said extension member, an element to engage one of thesaid recesses and at the same time to clamp the binding device. to theladder leg, and means carried by the binding device to secure it to theextension member.

The preferred form and construction of parts and elements for carryingmy inven- Serial No. 507,171.

tion into effect, is that shown in the draw- Jugs, it being understoodthat minor changes may be made within the scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims, without departing from the nature andspirit. of my invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. I

The extension member 2 adapted to be connected to the leg 1 of theladder, is of a thickness and width to correspond substantially withthat of the ladder leg, and is made of pine or poplar or of any suitablewood, or of light sheet metal. The thickness of the legs in ladders ofwood or of metal construction, is about one inch. At spaced locationsthroughout the length of the extension member, are recesses 3. Therecesses extend transversely of the rear face of the said member, are Ushaped in cross section having rounded corners 3*, and are located aboutone inch apart.

The connector, or binding device, which may be termed a yoke, consistsof a metal bar 4: about one inch wide and one eighth of an inch thick,bent into U shaped form as shown in Figure 4, the opposed ends of thebar being inturned and constituting fingers 4" to engage the rear sideor edge of the ladder leg. On each of the opposed faces of the bar 4 isprovided a small integrally formed tooth or projection 4"; and near thecentral portion of each side of the yoke is provided an elongated holeor slot 4.

Passed through the holes 4 is a bolt 6 having the wing nut 6. To attachthis yoke it is simply placed at position on the ladder leg; the bolt 6is then set at contact with the face of said leg. By then screwing thewing nut 6 the bolt is secured at its said position a ainst the ladderleg, andat the same time tlie sides of the yoke are drawn into tightcontact with the sides of the said leg, the teeth 4 being embeddedtherein. Two of the yokes ordinarily aroused on each of the ladder legs1 as shown in Figure 1.

The upper end 2 of the extension member is tapered so that it may beeasily slipped into engagement with the yoke, and which yoke retains itin alignment with the ladder eg. Loosely connected to the inner end ofthe thumb screw 7 that is threaded through the head portion of the yoke,is a. grip block 8 which is adapted to engage the outer face of theextension member. This grip block is of cast metal and may be of theform in cross section shown in Figure 3.

It is apparent that the extension member may be easily slipped to thedesired pos1- tion with reference to the ladder leg 1, the roundedcorners 3 of the recesses 3 permitting the passing of the extensionmember freely over the bolts 6. When the extension member will have beenset at the adjusted position, each of the bolts 6 of the yokes, isengaged by one of the recesses 3. Then by the screwing in of the thumbscrew 7, and the firm engagement of the grip block 8 against the outerface of the extension member, the extension member and the ladder legare secured together.

Where a short extension only, of the ladder leg, is desired, theextension members are used in their individual form as shown in Figure2. To provide a longer extension of the ladder legs, additional steps Aand A are placed between the extension members disposed knuckle C bywhich the expandermember may be easily turned by the hand. The usualbinding bolts D between the extension members and underneath the stepsare used todraw the extension members to tight engagement with the endsof the step pieces.

Advantages of my invention are readily apparent. By thus making possiblethe easy variation in length of the ladder legs, it is entirelypracticable to cause the ladder to stand stably, regardless of thecontour of the surface upon which the ladder may rest. With theextension members combined with the rear legs E and E, adjustment of anyone or all of the legs of the ladder is easily possible. An ordinarystep ladder equipped with my invention may be used on surfaces ofvarying heights such as stair steps and the like. v

While I have shown this invention applied to use with the well knownhousehold form of step ladder, it is, with slight mechanicalmodifications, equally well applicable to use in combination withladders of all kinds. Further features of advantage in my invention arethat the construction of the extension members and of the yoke devices,is simple and inexpensive. The extension device complete and constructedin accordance with my invention is com act in form, easy and practicableto pack or transportation, either singly, or in quantities, and themanner of applying the invention to use is ap parent toa person ofordinary skill in the handling and use of ladders.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. An extension device for a .ladder leg, comprising an extension memberhaving spaced recesses in its face, a yoke adapted to be secured to theladder leg and to loosely engage the extension member, means to bindthe'yoke to the ladder leg and which means is engaged by one of saidrecesses, and means on the yoke to clamp the extension member at thesaid engaged position.

2.4K device of the kind described, comprising an extension member havingsuccessively arranged recesses, a U shaped yoke to embracethe extensionmember and having its free ends adapted to engage the sides of a ladderleg, a bolt'through the sides of the said yoke totighten the sides ofthe yoke against the ladder leg and to constitute a tooth for the saidrecesses, and a ,clamp carried by the yoke to tighten the extensionmember against the ladder leg.

3. An extension device for a ladder leg,

comprising an extension bar having successively arranged recesses in itsface, a ,U shaped yoke having 1ts sldes to loosely ongage said bar,there being elongated openings in the sides of the yoke and oppositelydisposed. a-bolt disposed-in the said openings, said bolt being adaptedto be engaged by one of the recesses of the extension bar, means carriedby the yoke 'to tighten the yoke against the said bar, and the free endsof the yoke being adapted to engage the sides and corners of the ladderleg.

4. An extension device of the kind described, comprising an extensionbar having spaced recesses in its face, a U shaped yoke having its endsturned inwardly, clamping means movable longitudinally of the yoke andadapted to engage one of the said recesses, and operable to draw thesides of the yoke towards each other, a set screw in the head of theyoke operable to tighten the said yoke against the extension member.

5. An extension device of the kind described, comprising an extensionbar having spaced recesses, a U shaped yoke to loosely engage the saidbar, there being teeth on the opposed inner faces of the sides of theyoke and the ends of said yoke being turned inwardly and-there beingelongated openings in the sides of said yoke, a bolt to engage the saidopenings, a set screw in the head of the yoke, and a grip block carriedloosely by the said set screw.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RALPH E. PETTIFORD.

